Art & Design, Fashion & Creative Crafts

Are you a highly creative person with a real passion for the creative arts? If so, one of our art & design, fashion or creative craft courses could be perfect for you! Let your imagination run free and see your ideas brought to life by choosing one of our innovative, expressive, creative courses.

Students studying at our Warrington campus will study in our Advanced Creative & Digital Skills Academy, equipped with the latest industry-standard equipment and software, and working alongside some of the industry's top employers.

Students aged 16-18 Adults

Trips and visits

While studying at Warrington & Vale Royal College, students have embarked on trips to renowned destinations such as Berlin, New York, and Barcelona, where they had the privilege of experiencing the artwork of globally acclaimed artists. Students have visited the Tate Gallery, Manchester City Art Gallery, Liverpool Walker, Manchester’s Whitworth Gallery, and The Natural History Museum to inspire their own work.

Students will benefit from being on the doorstep of two of the UK’s top cultural and fashion cities of Manchester & Liverpool. With many of the UK’s top brands setting up their head offices in Manchester, such as Boohoo and Missguided, students can look forward to immersing themselves in this diverse and creative industry through visits to fashion houses, boutiques, exhibitions and higher education institutes.

Industry links

The North West is a thriving creative hub, offering a multitude of career opportunities following the completion of your course. The college has excellent links with industry, as well as our own artist-in-residence, to enhance your learning and college experience. You will complete an industry placement to broaden your skills and experience, and have the opportunity to work in galleries and creative spaces such as Warrington Museum & Art Gallery and Pyramid Arts Centre. Last year, Warrington & Vale Royal College was the first-ever college to collaborate with Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival, giving students the exclusive opportunity to hold a two-week long exhibition open to the public in Warrington town centre.

Throughout your course, you will also participate in guest lecture workshops and live briefs through our strong partnerships with Culture Warrington, Castlefield Arts Centre, The Royal Standard and The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. Past students have also worked on a number of projects for the NHS including the curation of artwork for a wellbeing hub and an array of eclectic murals.

In addition to the industry-relevant skills developed throughout your industry placements, you will also develop vital employability skills including communication, customer service, enthusiasm, motivation, problem-solving and attention to detail. This ensures that you are fully prepared to succeed in the workplace when you leave us.

I am

16-18 Years Old

As a school leaver studying one of our fantastic art and design courses, you will be introduced to a broad range of disciplines, allowing you to experiment with your new skills and interpret briefs with creative freedom. As you progress, you will have the opportunity to specialise within your preferred discipline, help you to refine your skills and build an impressive portfolio. Starting from BTEC Level 1 to Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design and even a Level 3 Fashion Promotion & Styling course, we have the perfect course for all budding artists.

Level 1 Art & Design

Full Time

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Level 2 Art & Design

Full Time

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Level 3 Art & Design

Full Time

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Level 3 Fashion Promotion & Styling

Full Time

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Meet our students

As a graphic designer, Lisa relishes ceramics as a creative escape from the digital screens filling her daily life. Lisa credits her tutor, Huw, for his invaluable expertise and adeptness in importing knowledge.

"Winsford campus if the perfect place to practice ceramics. That, and the amazing friends I have made on the course is the reason why I enjoy coming to the sessions each week."

Lisa Birchall Leedham

Level 3 Ceramics

Level 3 Art & Design student Madie Baldacchino

“My course has given me the freedom to do what I want to do within art, as well as letting me explore techniques, materials, and equipment that I wouldn’t have access to at other colleges. For anyone who wants a creative career, I’d definitely recommend this course!”

Madie Baldacchino, a former pupil at Helsby High School, is one of the college’s talented Level 3 Art & Design students who is already making an impression in the local art sector.

Madie has been involved in projects with some high-profile cultural organisations, such as the Liverpool Tate and Culture Warrington.

Madie Baldacchino

Level 3 Art & Design

After hearing about adult Art & Design courses while attending a 'Young Artist of the Year' open event with her daughter, Michelle enrolled on to Level 1 and 2 Creative Craft before progressing onto our Level 4 Foundation Art & Design course. As a web designer, she felt these creative courses would help spark creativity in her role- which has certainly been achieved.

Upon completing the course, Michelle hopes to move into a career in printmaking and feels it has been the perfect step towards achieving that goal.

"The college has great facilities, tutors, and a nurturing environment."

Michelle Weedall

Level 4 Foundation Art & Design

"You learn a lot about yourself on this course, and the tutors are always there for you. When you do art, it can take you many different ways - it does not have to be just drawing or painting.”

Level 3 Art & Design student Gvena Naburga is one of Warrington & Vale Royal college’s exceptional artists, joining the college in 2018 to follow her passion for photography. After all of her hard work, Gvena has now gained employment working with Culture Warrington as Assistant Venue Manager.

GVENA NABURGA

Level 3 Art & Design

Meet our tutors

Kelly Broughton

Art & design tutor Kelly Broughton started her creative career at Manchester Metropolitan University, studying a degree in embroidery before moving on to achieve a master’s in Fine Art from the University of Chester and has since been an art tutor for 14 years.

Kelly has displayed her artwork nationally and internationally in various exhibitions and galleries and enjoys sharing her vast knowledge of techniques and mediums with her students. She says: “I love seeing my students experiment with styles and techniques, stepping out of their comfort zone to discover their unique artistic voice."

Rebecca Bennett

Rebecca Bennett is the college’s expert fashion innovation tutor, who has had a stellar career and travelled the world working as a fabric technologist before becoming a fashion tutor. Rebecca has worked with major sports brands, including Adidas, and has used her expertise to develop football kits for the Premier League, Bundesliga and La Lega. Rebecca says:

“It’s great working for a forward-thinking college that embraces change and I love being able to teach a course that promotes innovation and really focuses on the future of fashion.”

Mia Cathcart

Art & Design Tutor Mia Cathcart has a wealth of experience in the industry, having worked for multiple arts organisations and galleries. Alongside teaching, Mia works as a freelance artist and has exhibited across the globe in London, Toronto and Budapest to name but a few.

Mia’s favourite thing about teaching at the college is the sense of community, she says: “We really value individuality. Students are encouraged to explore their own language and concepts within art and the college is always open to new ideas.”

Explore our facilities

Advanced Creative & Digital Skills (ACDS) Academy

Art & Design, Fashion & Creative Crafts students get to study in our brand-new Advanced Creative & Digital Skills (ACDS) Academy which is equipped with state-of-the-art, purpose-built art studios, allowing you to develop your skills within your chosen media. You will have a designated workspace including access to an Apple Mac with the Adobe Creative Suite installed.

The department also houses a screen printing room and fashion equipment such as sewing machines and a heat transfer press. In terms of ceramics, we have a range of clays, throwing wheels, sandblasting machine and glaze room.

Choosing a career based on Art & Design, Fashion & Creative Crafts Back to top

Department news

3 July 2025

Meet Michelle, Level 4 Foundation Art student

Sixty High Street founder Andy and Fashion tutor Lisa

25 June 2025

Warrington & Vale Royal College fashion students impress industry designer with stand-out campaign work

26 March 2025

Warrington & Vale Royal College celebrates local artistic talent at the Young Artist of the Year Competition 2025

29 July 2024

Warrington & Vale Royal College student achieves huge career milestone as they exhibit their work in London’s Mall Galleries at Origins Creatives

22 May 2024

Meet Nicola Owens, Summer Floristry student with a creative flair

16 May 2024

Meet Lisa, a Graphic Designer with a passion for ceramics

Young Artist of the Yeay 2024 competition entrants

22 March 2024

Celebrating local artistic talent with the Young Artist of the Year competition

5 March 2024

Warrington & Vale Royal College art student selected as a ‘Young Producer’ for Warrington Arts Festival

5 February 2024

Talented art students from Warrington & Vale Royal College craft thought-provoking exhibition for new Living Well Hub

15 January 2024

Meet Beverley Meyer, artist in residence at Winsford campus

21 November 2023

Former Warrington & Vale Royal College students exuberate entrepreneurial spirit and take the creative industry by storm

Ryan with some of the college's fashion students

9 November 2023

Former student now celebrity stylist Ryan Kay inspires fashion innovation students in an exciting guest lecture

30 August 2023

Meet Emily Robinson, HNC Art & Design: Arts Practice Alumni

21 June 2023

Warrington & Vale Royal College students showcase an extraordinary end-of-year art exhibition at Pyramid Arts Centre

30 March 2023

Warrington & Vale Royal College artists showcase their work in two enchanting exhibitions

27 March 2023

Level 3 Art & Design student Gvena Naburga is one of Warrington & Vale Royal college’s exceptional young artists.

27 March 2023

Art & design student Sean Muir joined Culture Warrington on an exciting industry placement!

24 March 2023

Warrington & Vale Royal College celebrates Warrington’s most promising young artists in annual competition

24 February 2023

Artists from Warrington, Runcorn and Cheshire are invited to showcase their skills in this year's Young Artist of the Year competition!

25 November 2022

Warrington & Vale Royal College students impress the town by producing an extraordinary Fringe Festival

15 November 2022

Warrington & Vale Royal College collaborate with Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival for its first-ever student-led ‘Fringe Festival’

20 October 2022

Art & Design students exhibit at Warrington Market to celebrate Rugby League World Cup

9 August 2022

Winsford subway to be transformed with artwork produced by Warrington & Vale Royal College students

2 July 2022

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I am

16-18 Years Old

Level 1 Art & Design

Level 2 Art & Design

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Adult Learner

Introduction to Pastels

Introduction to Drawing & Sketching

Introduction to Art & Design

Next Steps in Art & Design

Advanced Art and Design

Introduction to Landscape Painting

Next Steps in Landscape Painting

Introduction to Design Crafts